This young lord was truly sincere! Over a month, riding swift horses between Youzhou and Hengtang, a full two thousand li… If only the fortunate girl had been Qingru, how wonderful that would have been! But alas, his heart was set on Qingyuan. Madam Hu observed him—riding without rest for over a month in this scorching heat had darkened his complexion. Yet his eyes remained bright like stars, gazing intently at Qingyuan, and Madam Hu knew reality had once again diverged from expectations. The young lord had likely succeeded in his mission, and so he came bearing the hope of victory—if the Xie family agreed, he could have his wish.
Indeed, he made a formal bow to the Old Madam and her, saying, “Venerable Madam, Madam, Chunzhi has returned as promised to report to his elders. My father and mother have consented to this marriage. I come today first to inform the elders and Fourth Sister, and tomorrow will have people prepare the betrothal gifts to formally propose to Fourth Sister.”
The Xie household members were all somewhat stunned, not expecting he could accomplish this. The Old Madam stared at the letters from the Danyang Marquis and his wife placed before her. Opening them to read, they were full of regret for their previous rashness and approval of the match between the two young people. They wrote that Chunzhi had maintained his childish nature for too long and it was time for him to establish a family. Having heard that Fourth Miss was talented and intelligent, she would surely help Chunzhi achieve success in his career.
The Old Madam read carefully word by word, trying to detect any hint of reluctance, but found none. The Marquis couple seemed very sincere this time, such a dramatic change that it was truly puzzling.
Madam Jiang from the East Mansion now felt she could hold her head high before Madam Hu—sometimes winning background didn’t require climbing up yourself, just waiting for others to fall. She cast a coy glance at Madam Hu, “Oh my, what are we to do? Fourth Miss can hardly decline such sincere intentions. Who would have thought our family would go in reverse order, with the youngest likely to be the first to marry!”
Li Congxin smiled—his once-fair skin had darkened considerably from wind and sun, making his teeth appear especially white. “That may not be the case. Someone asked me to relay a message—he’s bringing grand gifts from his family, though his journey won’t be as swift. If I arrived first, I was to inform the Venerable Madam that Lanshan would soon come to your mansion to set a date.”
This was excellent news—even a thousand li hadn’t deterred the founding Earl’s son’s determination. Everyone offered congratulations to the eldest Miss. Qinghe lowered her head, blushing, sweetness threatening to overflow from every feature.
However, the greater joy naturally belonged to Fourth Miss—finally, after much hardship, she could smoothly marry into the Danyang Marquis’s household. The young lord appeared to be someone dependable; able to persuade his parents under such pressure, he would surely be able to protect Fourth Miss well in the future.
Qingyuan continued smiling because besides smiling, she didn’t know what expression to show for this matter. It should have been good—he showed such sincerity, and given her background and current situation, what more could she ask for… Yet the heart is never satisfied, beginning to pick and choose even amid stability—truly inappropriate.
Li Congxin looked toward her, still with that bright gaze and bright smile. She understood everything in her heart—seeing him return so radiantly, who knew what efforts he had made before his parents in Hengtang? If this was truly the outcome, she should also settle her heart and keep her word.
The Old Madam was still hesitant on her end, “I’ve read the letter from your noble house and gather the Marquis and his wife are indeed interested in this marriage alliance, but… Youzhou is so far from Hengtang, with both granddaughters…” She sighed while speaking, “I find it hard to let go.”
Li Congxin raised his eyes, his heart skipping slightly, and quickly consoled her, “Venerable Madam need not be sorrowful. I now hold office in the capital and will likely remain in the metropolitan area in the future. Whenever you miss Fourth Sister, she can return at any time.”
What more could be said? The Old Madam was exhausted by recent events. Originally, Qingyuan’s marriage had swayed between the Danyang Marquis’s household and the Commander’s mansion, but that night returning from Huguo Temple, seeing how Shen Run had disregarded everyone to protect Qingyuan, she had considered—if she got such a son-in-law, even if Qingyuan were to rule her maiden home in the future, he would surely support her.
Madam Jiang gathered her sleeves and asked Qingyuan, “What are Fourth Miss’s thoughts?”
Qingyuan calmly replied, “I will follow Grandmother’s arrangements.”
The Old Madam let out a breath and slowly nodded, “Well then…”
At this point, Madam Hu cut off the Old Madam’s words, “In my opinion, there’s no need to rush this matter. My husband is fighting beyond the passes and hasn’t sent a single letter home—we don’t know how he’s faring. Regarding the children’s marriages, we should wait a while. After all, he is the head of the family, and we should hear his thoughts. Don’t you agree, Mother?”
What could the Old Madam say? She chose to say nothing. Qingru’s matter had drained all her strength—now when she looked at the sky, it was gray; when she looked at the ground, it too was gray. Qingyuan didn’t need her worry, that was true. Whether Li Congxin or Shen Run, let it be whoever! These past days she had thought carefully—since Qingyuan’s return, household matters had been endless. They said she brought stability to the house, but this house was nearly shaken apart—what stability was left to bring! But this First Madam… was truly beyond words. For a principal wife to be so intolerant of others—it was her fault too, having indulged her too much before. Now this Xie family’s backbone was nearly bent by others’ poking, and she hid in the depths of the house not daring to hear outside rumors. If she heard them, she might vomit blood. Though they still maintained appearances outside, claiming it was just a maidservant involved in some unsavory business, they were only deceiving themselves. Second Miss couldn’t even participate in the Imperial Selection now, and those gossiping noble ladies weren’t fools…
If Qingyuan could marry well, it might help the Xie family recover some face. The Old Madam looked at Madam Hu, then at Li Congxin, feeling caught between two difficulties. She could only compromise by delaying for a day, “Chunzhi, you’ve just arrived in Youzhou today, haven’t you? The journey has been tiring. Go rest for the night first, and tomorrow… tomorrow when you’re rested and recovered, we can discuss this further.”
The Old Madam’s meaning was clear—Li Congxin had been traveling for days and didn’t know what had happened in the Xie household. If Qingru’s matter affected Qingyuan and made him reconsider marrying the Xie family, then they would accept fate. At worst, Qingyuan still had Shen Run supporting her. He had set his mind on Fourth Miss and knew everything about her situation, saving them the trouble of explanation.
Li Congxin truly didn’t understand the Xie family’s meaning anymore. He had traveled between two places, and it had been agreed that if the Marquis’s household consented, the Xie family would not obstruct. What was happening now? It was one thing for Madam Hu to disagree—she had never gotten along with Qingyuan—but even the Old Madam was going back on her word, which truly puzzled him.
Though puzzled, he couldn’t press too hard. Although he felt somewhat wronged, he still maintained proper etiquette, clasping his hands and saying, “Thank you for your consideration, Venerable Madam. I shall return tomorrow to pay my respects.”
He looked at Qingyuan again, his gaze full of reluctance to part. The Old Madam saw this and said to Qingyuan, “Fourth girl, see the young lord out!”
Qingyuan agreed and obediently accompanied Li Congxin as he left the main hall. Outside, the sunlight was still piercing, and they walked under the long covered corridor. Through the octagonal latticed windows came cool breezes that had run beneath the trees in the neighboring garden. Li Congxin finally stopped in his tracks and turned to ask Qingyuan, “Fourth Sister, have you been well during this time?”
The young lady he constantly thought of wore a gown of qiansuqing—that color between green and blue which further emphasized her delicate complexion. The corners of her lips always carried a hint of a smile. “Both well and not well. Third Young Master, some things have happened recently in the Xie household that may have damaged the family’s reputation. The Old Madam didn’t explain it to you just now, but I ask you to consider carefully and weigh whether this might affect the Marquis’s household.”
Li Congxin was somewhat bewildered, “I’ve been on the road all these days and truly don’t know what has happened. Does it concern you?”
Qingyuan didn’t answer, only saying, “It’s not convenient for me to say more. You’ll know when you return.”
She moved forward slowly, her light skirts brushing occasionally against his legs—an ethereal touch too fleeting to grasp. He watched her profile as she walked with a slightly lowered head, a yellow jadeite earring suspended by the finest silver thread, like a teardrop swaying against her pure white neck. He gazed at her somewhat entranced and said softly, “Fourth Sister, the Xie family is the Xie family, and you are you. I don’t care about all that.”
Hearing this, she smiled shyly, “I never expected the Marquis and his wife would agree to your request.”
He became somewhat embarrassed and said vaguely, “My mother only had me. If I insist on doing something, they will eventually agree.”
He spoke of it simply, as if accomplishing it required just a word, but she didn’t know how much effort it had taken to get his mother’s consent. Kneeling had been unavoidable—he had knelt in the courtyard for an entire night, and in the morning had endured a beating. For someone raised in luxury like him, this could be considered great suffering.
His grandmother had protected him, stamping her foot and scolding his parents: “We only have this one legitimate son, and everything in our future depends on him. If you drive him to his death, see how I’ll fight you to the end!”
The Marquis had always been a strict father, still clutching the whip tightly, “Mother doesn’t know Fourth Miss Xie’s background—her mother poisoned someone and was driven out by Xie Shu!”
The Old Madam snorted, “If she poisoned someone, why wasn’t she executed? The girl was raised by them for fourteen years, only brought back home when she came of age—what a clever calculation that was! I’ve learned everything—Xie Shu consumed an extinct household, seized how many fields, and then drove them away. How dare you use this against her!”
His mother, seeing her son beaten, felt both heartache and resentment at his stubbornness. No matter how many grievances lay behind Fourth Miss Xie, her reputation outside was set in stone. Even if she were a good girl, she couldn’t escape mockery.
“Chunzhi, listen to your mother. There are so many good young ladies in the world you could marry, why must it be her? If you like her, bring her back as a concubine, but she absolutely cannot be the principal wife. The other day, the Duke of Chengguo’s family sent someone to propose a match—their eldest daughter is your age, a legitimate firstborn with excellent character and appearance. If you want to marry, I can send someone to present the betrothal gifts right now… Why torture yourself? For such a girl, is it worth it?”
He had knelt until he was dazed, having lost feeling from his waist down, but still insisted firmly, “I will marry no one but Fourth Miss.”
The Marquis’s whip fell again, “If you insist on marrying her, you’re no longer a son of the Li family!”
Hearing this, he loosened his hair and drew the short sword at his waist, preparing to cut it, “I’ll shave my head and become a monk—surely that will satisfy Father’s wishes.”
Then the entire household erupted—the Marquis’s only legitimate son wanting to become a monk! The Old Madam cried the Marquis’s wife cried, and even the Marquis’s concubines joined in crying. The Marquis’s wife finally yielded, saying, “I’ve raised only this one child in my life. Whatever this wretched boy wants, I won’t interfere anymore.”
So although his flesh had suffered some pain, he hadn’t failed Qingyuan. But returning with good news, who knew he would receive such a cold reception?
“Fourth Sister…” he looked at her somewhat sorrowfully, “My feelings for you are sincere, and as promised, I came with my parents’ blessing. I don’t know what your plans are now, but if you’re still willing to give me a chance, I would be overjoyed. But if your heart belongs to another… then let this matter end, and I won’t blame you.”
Qingyuan couldn’t help feeling melancholy. Though he said that, could he truly not blame her? He had done nothing wrong and shouldn’t suffer wasted effort because of her wavering heart.
Fortunately, she had never given Shen Run her word. The entanglement between three people would eventually need resolution. Qingyuan said gently, “Please consider carefully what I said earlier, Third Young Master. There’s no rush for marriage, and if the Madam doesn’t agree, there may be much grinding ahead.”
Li Congxin frowned slightly, “I’ve made up my mind—as long as Fourth Sister doesn’t reject me, I’ll wait until I’m eighty to marry you if I must.”
Qingyuan smiled in surprise. This was youthful passion, the persistence bred by a privileged life. Who that had been tempered by suffering would be so single-minded! She gradually came to terms with it—with Shen Run’s position and family background, he could surely find someone better. He understood choices and compromise better than Li Congxin, and also knew better when to let go.
“Go home and have a good sleep,” she saw him at the door. “As for what comes next, you can discuss it in detail with the Old Madam after tomorrow.”
He nodded, and his attending servant came to assist him. He lingered but finally left. About to board his carriage, he looked back at her once more. She stood under the eaves, waving her round fan, her elegant figure silhouetted against the vermillion-lacquered door—if captured in a print, it would be worth admiring for a lifetime.
As the carriage drove away and gradually disappeared, Baoxian finally came forward, “The Old Madam instructed that after seeing off Third Young Master, Miss should return to speak with her.”
It was just about this matter. Qingyuan said let’s go, and returned to Huifang Garden. Entering the main hall, she found everyone else had dispersed, leaving only the Old Madam sitting on a bamboo couch by the window, slowly counting her prayer beads.
“Grandmother,” she stood to the side, calling softly.
The Old Madam’s drooping eyelids lifted slightly, “Sit down.”
Qingyuan complied, taking a seat at the lower end, and waiting for the Old Madam to speak. The Old Madam remained silent for a long while before saying, “Today is the Imperial Selection. I wonder how Third Sister is doing… Both your sisters have suffered, losing your mothers at such young ages. If the blessings missed in childhood can be made up for in the future, that would be good. Regarding this marriage with the Danyang Marquis family, I wasn’t very optimistic about it initially—their Madam is somewhat too proud, and I feared you would suffer after going there. Today the young lord came, and he seems sincere, but I dare not agree, fearing we cannot explain it to Commander Shen. You and Commander Shen… how are things? If you truly are with him… then we might as well turn the young lord away, and that would be that.”
As the Old Madam spoke, she watched Qingyuan’s reaction. Her expression remained mild as she paused before saying, “Is Grandmother speaking to your granddaughter like this because the Madam strongly opposes?”
The Old Madam faltered, “Of course not…”
Qingyuan lowered her eyes and spoke slowly, “Grandmother is the most perceptive person in the world. From my attack at Bihen Temple to Second Sister’s violation, even without me saying it, Grandmother knows what happened. I have one question I’ve always wanted to ask Grandmother—do you truly believe maintaining appearances is more important than human life? It wasn’t my mother who poisoned Concubine Xia—the Madam planned to kill two birds with one stone. Grandmother’s judgment is as keen as autumn frost, how could you not see this? But for the sake of household peace, you still smoothed it over. My mother and Concubine Xia died in vain, while the Madam lived well, enjoying all worldly pleasures—where is justice in this world? Now the Madam reaps what she sowed and has harmed Second Sister too, yet Grandmother continues to indulge her. Are you waiting until she ruins the young masters too before deciding to punish her?”
The Old Madam was rendered speechless by her words. They were all true, but how easy was it to punish a principal wife! With the master away, all of Youzhou watching the Xie family’s every move—if something were to happen to the Madam now, the Xie family would never be able to hold their heads up again. Moreover, the Madam had Zhengze—if not for the Madam’s sake, they had to consider Zhengze’s face. The military examinations were approaching soon; if their foundation was shaken now, it wouldn’t be good for any of the three young masters. So this matter still had to be covered up—even if it stank and rotted, it had to be covered up.
The Old Madam sighed, “You’re too young, not thinking long-term. When you have your own family and children in the future, you’ll understand my difficulties. Fourth girl, in this world, how can everything be clear-cut? The older one gets, the more one understands weighing advantages and disadvantages.”
Qingyuan smiled coldly, “Watching the Madam destroy your granddaughter, you can tolerate that too?”
The Old Madam’s expression became wooden, “The mistake has already been made. All I can do is maintain the Xie family as it is until your father returns.”
When Father returns, the outcome will still be the same. The Xie family’s hypocrisy and numbness made her feel desperate. Stay any longer, and she feared she would become such a person too.
“Since I’ve agreed to Third Young Master, I must keep my word,” she stood up and said. “I will explain things to Commander Shen myself. Please allow me to make a trip to the capital, and I’ll also inquire about Third Sister’s news while there.”
The Old Madam lowered her eyelids and nodded. Children grow up and develop their plans—you can no longer control them at will. Earlier, she had everything going her way, but now in her old age, encountering small obstacles, as long as they could be glossed over, she didn’t want to manage anything else.